Composer: Robert Schumann
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conductor: Riccardo Muti
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Catalogue: 0979932
Release: 2011
Size: 681 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
01. Die Braut von Messina, Op. 100
Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 38 “Spring”
02. I. Andante un poco maestoso – Allegro molto vivace
03. II. Larghetto
04. III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
05. IV. Allegro animato e grazioso
Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61
06. I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo
07. II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace – Trio I – Trio II
08. III. Adagio espressivo
09. IV. Allegro molto vivace
CD 02
01. Hermann und Dorothea, Op. 136
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”
02. I. Lebhaft
03. II. Scherzo. Sehr mäßig
04. III. Nicht schnell
05. IV. Feierlich
06. V. Lebhaft
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120
07. I. Ziemlich langsam – Lebhaft
08. II. Romanze. Ziemlich langsam
09. III. Scherzo. Lebhaft
10. IV. Langsam – Presto
Inspired by his wife, Clara, Robert Schumann wrote four symphonies over a decade, with No 1, the ‘Spring’, first perfomed – under Felix Mendelssohn – in 1841. Riccardo Muti’s distinction in this cycle is affirmed by Gramophone’s review of No.3, the ‘Rhenish’: ‘The rhythm is firm and bold, the melodic line clearly drawn, the individual playing given every encouragement, not least with some magnificent horn solos. He is no less masterly and sympathetic with the finale.’
Robert Schumann is about as interesting you can get when it comes to historical musical figures. From his courtship with Clara Wieck and their subsequent marriage, his relationship with the likes of Mendelssohn and Brahms, the bizarre contraptions he built that eventually destroyed his ability to play the piano, and finally his mental instability that ultimately ended his career, Schumann never fails to disappoint. The same can be said of his symphonies, which provide a relatively good cross-section of his compositional output and delineate his growth and his treatment of the medium. Having all four of the symphonies together in a collection such as this one makes such a comparison easier, although the liner notes are somewhat lacking in providing sufficient historical background.
The Philharmonia Orchestra (or the New Philharmonia Orchestra for the Fourth Symphony) under the direction of Riccardo Muti does a suitable job of representing Schumann’s search for something new to offer the symphony. While the overall execution in these recordings from the late 1970s intonation, articulation, and ensemble — is good, their sound quality is not always ideal. The lower end of the orchestra is often muddy and indistinct; this is especially true of the Fourth Symphony, whose sound is overly reverberant throughout. In symphonies No. 1 and No. 3, the tympani is extremely aggressive and sticks out inappropriately. While this collection is generally an acceptable introduction to these four great symphonies, listeners may also wish to consider the Cleveland Orchestra’s recordings under Szell for a more well-balanced rendition.